Wallabies and France Trade Tries Before France Regains Lead in Brisbane

The Wallabies faced France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 11. The match drew a sold-out crowd. France took a 12-7 lead after winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored from a chip kick by Romain Ntamack.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the ball dribbled through a gap and Declan Meredith misjudged the bounce. The Wallabies equalized at 7-7 when hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa crossed from a lineout move involving Ryan Lonergan. Paenga-Amosa had entered the match after Josh Nasser left for a head injury assessment.

France regained the lead when lock Manny Meafou scored less than two minutes after a high tackle by Josh Canham. The Sydney Morning Herald noted the try came from an Australian-born player in the French pack. Declan Meredith made his Wallabies debut in the match.

Tom Staniforth, another debutant the previous week against New Zealand, started for France alongside fellow Australian-born players Moses Alo-Emile and Emmanuel Meafou. France started Romain Ntamack at fly-half and moved Jalibert to fullback for the first time since 2021. Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson were unavailable for Australia due to injury.

Full time had just been called in a concurrent match in Wellington, where Will Jordan scored his 50th try for New Zealand against Italy. The Wallabies are scheduled to play Italy next week in Perth. Joe Schmidt is coaching his penultimate Test with the team.